When log cabins are built, the bottom logs are spilt in half so that they will rest as far down as the logs that come on top of them. I didn’t´t do that here because of the not so level ground I´m building on.

The underlying log needs to be prepared for the overlying log to form a good notch. This clip shows how.

Here is a list for how to prepare the underlying log

  1. Draw a line around the log where the center of the overlying log will be.
  2. Put a mark on top center of the underlying log so that this mark crosses the line.
  3. Put a mark out to each side of the center along the line around the log. This may vary depending on the log size, but I but it 1.5 inch out to each side.
    1. If you have split you bottom log, you will next make a cut from the mark you just made to the edge where the log is split. This is how far down the next log will go.
    2. If you have a whole log as the bottom log, you might want to let the next log go further down than the middle. But you then have to have a big enough log so that the 3rd log on top will have something to wrap around. 🙂 This is a bit advanced in my head, but it makes sense when done step by step outside.
    3. If this is not the bottom log, you make the cut from the mark and to this log meets the next log.
  4. Put marks out to the side from the cut you just made. From these marks you will make a cut in to the other cut. This flat surface will be where the next log rests upon. This surface should be wider than the logs used, and the same width all over so that it looks nice.
  5. Sand the surface using an angle grinder with a sand paper disc so that it is nice and flat.

That´s it for the underlying log. You have now made what is called a saddle.